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unately opened the door of the apartments； otherwise； the dreadful band seeing several women collected in the Queen's salon would have fancied she was among us； and would have immediately massacred us had we resisted them。 We were； indeed； all about to perish； when a man with a long beard came up； exclaiming； in the name of Potion； 〃Spare the women； don't dishonour the nation！〃 A particular circumstance placed me in greater danger than the others。 In my confusion I imagined； a moment before the assailants entered the Queen's apartments； that my sister was not among the group of women collected there； and I went up into an 'entresol'； where I supposed she had taken refuge； to induce her to come down； fancying it safer that we should not be separated。 I did not find her in the room in question； I saw there only our two femmes de chambre and one of the Queen's two heyducs； a man of great height and military aspect。 I saw that he was pale； and sitting on a bed。 I cried out to him； 〃Fly！ the footmen and our people are already safe。〃〃I cannot；〃 said the man to me； 〃I am dying of fear。〃 As he spoke I heard a number of men rushing hastily up the staircase； they threw themselves upon him； and I saw him assassinated。
I ran towards the staircase； followed by our women。 The murderers left the heyduc to come to me。 The women threw themselves at their feet； and held their sabres。 The narrowness of the staircase impeded the assassins； but I had already felt a horrid hand thrust into my back to seize me by my clothes； when some one called out from the bottom of the staircase； 〃What are you doing above there？ We don't kill women。〃 I was on my knees； my executioner quitted his hold of me； and said； 〃Get up； you jade； the nation pardons you。〃
The brutality of these words did not prevent my suddenly experiencing an indescribable feeling which partook almost equally of the love of life and the idea that I was going to see my son； and all that was dear to me； again。 A moment before I had thought less of death than of the pain which the steel； suspended over my head； would occasion me。 Death is seldom seen so close without striking his blow。 I heard every syllable uttered by the assassins； just as if I had been calm。
Five or six men seized me and my companions； and； having made us get up on benches placed before the windows； ordered us to call out； 〃The nation for ever！〃
I passed over several corpses； I recognised that of the old Vicomte de Broves； to whom the Queen had sent me at the beginning of the night to desire him and another old man in her name to go home。 These brave men desired I would tell her Majesty that they had but too strictly obeyed the King's orders in all circumstances under which they ought to have exposed their own lives in order to preserve his； and that for this once they would not obey； though they would cherish the recollection of the Queen's goodness。
Near the grille； on the side next the bridge； the men who conducted me asked whither I wished to go。 Upon my inquiring； in my turn； whether they were at liberty to take me wherever I might wish to go； one of them； a Marseillais； asked me； giving me at the same time a push with the butt end of his musket； whether I still doubted the power of the people？ I answered 〃No；〃 and I mentioned the number of my brother…in…law's house。 I saw my sister ascending the steps of the parapet of the bridge； surrounded by members of the National Guard。 I called to her； and she turned round。 〃Would you have her go with you？〃 said my guardian to me。 I told him I did wish it。 They called the people who were leading my sister to prison； she joined me。
Madame de la Roche…Aymon and her daughter； Mademoiselle Pauline de Tourzel； Madame de Ginestoux； lady to the Princesse de Lamballe； the other women of the Queen； and the old Comte d'Affry； were led off together to the Abbaye。
Our progress from the Tuileries to my sister's house was most distressing。 We saw several Swiss pursued and killed； and musket…shots were crossing each other in all directions。 We passed under the walls of the Louvre； they were firing from the parapet into the windows of the gallery； to hit the knights of the dagger； for thus did the populace designate those faithful subjects who had assembled at the Tuileries to defend the King。
The brigands broke some vessels of water in the Queen's first antechamber； the mixture of blood and water stained the skirts of our white gowns。 The poissardes screamed after us in the streets that we were attached to the Austrian。 Our protectors then showed some consideration for us； and made us go up a gateway to pull off our gowns； but our petticoats being too short； and making us look like persons in disguise； other poissardes began to bawl out that we were young Swiss dressed up like women。 We then saw a tribe of female cannibals enter the street； carrying the head of poor Mandat。 Our guards made us hastily enter a little public…house； called for wine； and desired us to drink with them。 They assured the landlady that we were their sisters； and good patriots。 Happily the Marseillais had quitted us to return to the Tuileries。 One of the men who remained with us said to me in a low voice： 〃I am a gauze…worker in the faubourg。 I was forced to march； I am not for all this； I have not killed anybody； and have rescued you。 You ran a great risk when we met the mad women who are carrying Mandat's head。 These horrible women said yesterday at midnight； upon the site of the Bastille； that they must have their revenge for the 6th of October； at Versailles； and that they had sworn to kill the Queen and all the women attached to her； the danger of the action saved you all。〃
As I crossed the Carrousel； I saw my house in flames； but as soon as the first moment of affright was over； I thought no more of my personal misfortunes。 My ideas turned solely upon the dreadful situation of the Queen。
On reaching my sister's we found all our family in despair； believing they should never see us again。 I could not remain in her house； some of the mob； collected round the door； exclaimed that Marie Antoinette's confidante was in the house； and that they must have her head。 I disguised myself； and was concealed in the house of M。 Morel； secretary for the lotteries。 On the morrow I was inquired for there； in the name of the Queen。 A deputy； whose sentiments were known to her； took upon himself to find me out。
I borrowed clothes； and went with my sister to the Feuillans＇A former monastery near the Tuileries； so called from the Bernardines； one of the Cistercian orders； later a revolutionary club。＇ We got there at the same time with M。 Thierry de Ville d'Avray； the King's first valet de chambre。 We were taken into an office； where we wrote down our names and places of abode； and we received tickets for admission into the rooms belonging to Camus； the keeper of the Archives； where the King was with his family。
As we entered the first room； a person who was there said to me； 〃Ah！ you are a brave woman； but where is that Thierry；
＇M。 Thierry； who never ceased to give his sovereign proofs of unalterable attachment； was one of the victims of the 2d of September。MADAME CAMPAN。＇
that man loaded with his master's bounties？〃〃He is here；〃 said I； 〃he is following me。 I perceive that even scenes of death do not banish jealousy from among you。〃
Having belonged to the Court from my earliest youth； I was known to many persons whom I did not know。 As I traversed a corridor above the cloisters which led to the cells inhabited by the unfortunate Louis XVI。 and his family； several of the grenadiers called me by name。 One of them said to me； 〃Well； the poor King is lost！ The Comte d'Artois would have managed it better。〃〃Not at all；〃 said another。
The royal family occupied a small suite of apartments consisting of four cells； formerly belonging to the ancient monastery of the Feuillans。 In the first were the men who had accompanied the King： the Prince de Poix； the Baron d'Aubier； M。 de Saint…Pardou； equerry to Madame Elisabeth； MM。 de Goguelat； de Chamilly； and de Hue。 In the second we found the King； he was having his hair dressed； he took two locks of it； and gave one to my sister and one to me。 We offered to kiss his hand； he opposed it； and embraced us without saying anything。 In the third was the Queen； in bed； and in indescribable affliction。 We found her accompanied only by a stout woman； who appeared tolerably civil； she was the keeper of the apartments。 She waited upon the Queen； who as yet had none of her own people about her。 Her Majesty stretched out her arms to us； saying； 〃Come； unfortunate women； come； and see one still more unhappy than yourselves； since she has been the cause of all your misfortunes。 We are ruined；〃 continued she； 〃we have arrived at that point to which they have been leading us for three years； through all possible outrages； we shall fall in this dreadful revolution； and many others will perish after us。 All have contributed to our downfall； the reformers have urged it like mad people； and others through ambition； for the wildest Jacobin seeks wealth and office； and the mob is eager for plunder。 There is not one real